About

The Menurkey

$48,345

pledged of $25,000 goal

820

backers

WELCOME TO MENURKEY CENTRAL!

If you have arrived on this page after the campaign has ended, don't despair! The campaign has finished, but the Menurkey Madness is far from over! We've shifted Menurkey Headquarters over to our website: www.menurkey.com and within days of the end of this campaign we'll be up and running with new content, as well as our spiffy sales platform so you can buy your very own Menurkey (or two, or three).

Tell all your family and friends that they too can still own their very own Menurkey for this once in an eternity event. If you are not aware of it, this whole thing started in the mind of a nine-year-old. Here is our intrepid designer celebrating the successful funding (and holding the first ceramic Menurkey to come out of the kiln).

THANK YOU to all who have helped get this project off the ground and given flight to a young boy’s dreams.

We have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgivukkah! Be sure to take a photo of your Menurkey lighting and share it with us on Facebook or Twitter or use #menurkey on Instagram! We hope to create our very own Menurkey collage from all over the world. To stay up to date on the latest Menurkey news, be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Pinterest.

Thanks again for all the amazing support! L'Shanah Tovah to you and your family!

- Anthony, Asher, and Team Menurkey

CHECK OUT THE MENURKEY IN THE NEWS!

Here to quell our collective holiday mash-up anxiety is none other than nine-year-old Asher Weintraub, inventor and rising fourth-grader, who designed the ultimate Thanksgivukkah accessory: the Menurkey. Tablet Magazine, 8/21/13

A conversation starter, an objet d’art, a functioning menorah and a perfect centerpiece for the “Thanksgivukkah” table. Long Island Newsday, 8/23/2013

******

This year is like no other that has come before and no other that will come again in our lifetime, because for the first time Hanukkah and Thanksgiving will overlap. On November 28th the two holidays will occur on the same day for the first time ever, and for the last time in over 75,000 years. And out of the mouth of babes - our 9-year-old son's mouth that is - came an idea which we thought was not only fun, but a great way to commemorate the occurrence and learn about the two holidays at the same time!

SO WHAT IS A MENURKEY?

The Menurkey is a menorah shaped like a turkey. An amazing conversation starter, an objet d'art, a functioning menorah and the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgivukkah table, the Menurkey will fascinate for years to come. Think about it - this is the one and only time in history that Hanukkah and Thanksgiving will coincide. Statistical probabilities suggest that this event that will not happen again until the year 79811, if it happens again at all.

HANUKKAH AND THANKSGIVING. HUH?

The reason Hanukkah and Thanksgiving will overlap this year is because the Jewish calendar repeats on a 19 year cycle, and Thanksgiving repeats on a 7 year cycle. You would therefore expect them to coincide roughly every 19x7 = 133 years. Which is correct - the last time it would have happened is 1861. But Thanksgiving was only formally established by President Lincoln in 1863 (which is why it has never happened before). It may not happen again because the Jewish calendar is very slowly getting out of sync with the solar calendar, at a rate of 4 days per 1000 years. This means that while presently Hanukkah can be as early as 11/28, over the years the calendar will drift forward, such that the earliest Hanukkah can be is 11/29. The last time Hanukkah falls on 11/28 is 2146 (which happens to be a Monday). Therefore, 2013 is the only time Hanukkah will ever overlap with Thanksgiving. Of course, if the Jewish calendar is never modified in any way, then it will slowly move forward through the Gregorian calendar, until it loops all the way back to where it is now. So, Hanukkah will again fall on Thursday, 11/28...in the year 79811.

THE MENURKEY BACKSTORY

The Menurkey was conceived, designed and named by our 9-year-old son Asher. He thought of the idea and the name when he learned of this strange calendar anomaly. He says one of the reasons he thought people might like to have a turkey menorah was because the holidays were similar - because in some way both commemorate being 'thankful.'

Because he knows how to use the 3D modeling platform Tinkercad, Asher did these CAD sketches for the prototype:

3D CAD sketch (front), prototype

3D CAD sketch, prototype (Rear)

That's when we asked for some help from our friends at Makerbot Studios. They printed out the prototype for us:

3D Print, prototype

Next we found a great ceramic artist, Connie Smith of the Etsy shop doters. Connie made our first prototypes for the Menurkey in plasticene, showing two different exterior textures:

Menurkey Ceramic/Plaster Prototype 1

Menurkey Ceramic/Plaster Prototype 2 (w/Jewish Calendar year)

Menurkey Ceramic/Plaster Prototype 3 (Rear)

The Menurkeys will be made in two editions - a limited run of ceramic, glazed Menurkeys and a higher volume edition of plaster Menurkeys. The ceramic editions will be painted (most likely in white and blue versions), textured (the textured look in the above photos), glazed and fired. The white plaster editions will be smooth. Note: the photos above represent full working prototypes, and represent both the ceramic (textured) and plaster (smooth) finishes.

Our latest prototypes reflect concerns that our hanukiyot would not be kosher, due to the fact that the candles on our early prototypes weren't level (traditional Hannukah law requires that the Menorah have all the wicks on the same level, none higher or lower than the others). Of course, this being a menorah/turkey hybrid, the Menurkey fits squarely in the 'modern' menorot category, but we've tried hard to respect all Hanukkah traditions-

Menurkey Ceramic/Plaster Prototype 4 (Rear; w/level wick position)

WHY KICKSTARTER?

We came to Kickstarter because Kickstarter is the ultimate place for budding entrepeneurs to fund their creative endeavors. We need additional funds to start producing the Menurkeys. We have quotes to produce approximately five hundred limited edition models and the plaster edition in the low thousands. Our goal of $25,000 will help us produce a limited batch (flock?) of Menurkeys as well as fund things like marketing, packaging, shipping and handling.

For those of you not familiar with Kickstarter's fundraising model, it is based on an 'all or nothing' fulfillment model, which means no funding is awarded the creators until the initial goal is met. Your credit card will not be charged until the campaign is over and the funding goal has been achieved.

TIMELINE

With your help we'll start producing the first batch of Menurkeys for shipping in mid to late October, just in time for the conjoined holidays. We've found some great partners with whom to collaborate and are looking for more. We're confident we'll be able to deliver on this timeline without incident, and hope to set the foundation for an even greater run of Menurkey production going forward.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER: Work around the clock to handcraft, pack and ship the best (the only) Menurkey you've ever seen.

EARLY NOVEMBER: Ship.

NOVEMBER 28TH: Light up those birds and celebrate a joyous Thanksgivukkah.

THE MENURKEY TEAM

I'm Anthony Weintraub, a filmmaker and content creator who lives on the Upper Westside of Manhattan with my wife Caroline Baron and our two boys, Asher and Emmanuel. While we don't have years of experience in product development we do have a long history of successful productions under our belts. Having worked on countless feature films over the years (as well as raising two kids in New York City), we're well aware that it takes a village to accomplish a goal. Special thanks so far go to our extended families, our intrepid production head, ceramicist Connie Smith, as well as the folks at Makerbot Studios, videographers Bliss Holloway, Hisham Abed, and Abner Willis, Stephen Jacobs and our friends in the Dirty Sock Funtime Band, Kendall Haney, Emma Thatcher, David Frank, Gary Kane, Heidi Packer, Craig Hatkoff, and Nancy Diamond.

THE MENURKEY MISSION

What began as a way to encourage one of our son's ideas has grown into a mission - whomever we tell about the Menurkey smiles and asks questions, and it's a great way to discuss these two holidays in which we're thankful for all we've been given. What better way to celebrate this strange but amazing occurrence with your family than with this funny and fascinating conversation starter?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VISITING OUR PAGE AND CONSIDERING A CONTRIBUTION! We're so excited to bring this to you and hope you can join us on the journey. Even if you can't contribute, please consider sending this to anyone who you think might appreciate it. And remember: every dollar gets us closer to our goal so please contribute if you can. Please like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/menurkey), follow us on twitter ((www.twitter.com/menurkey) and check out our Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/menurkey). Happy Thanksgivukkah!

Risks and challenges

We are surrounding ourselves with manufacturers and retailers who understand a lot about the process of bringing something to market, and fast, while at the same time not sacrificing quality.

Given the excellent state of our current prototype and mold production, we are confident that we will be able to execute our plans and produce and ship our rewards in a timely manner.

We understand that these reasons alone can’t completely eliminate all the future risks. Manufacturing is an imperfect science, and although we don't anticipate any problems, there are things beyond our control which could arise. The best we can offer is that we will react to the risks as they arise, and we will always be in communication about any issues along the way.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

We will make a donation in your name to the Thousand Turkey Challenge, the purpose of which is to collect 1,000 frozen turkeys for the West Side Campaign Against Hunger to give to low income families for Thanksgiving.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $36 or more
About $36

What could be better than celebrating Hanukkah and Thanksgiving this year with your very own Menurkey (plaster edition)! Feel confident in the knowledge that you'll be one of the first to own this unique product.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

All of the above rewards plus a set of Hanukkah candles and a digital download of our custom written version of 'O Hanukkah (Menurkey version),' recorded by those sock-a-delic masters of high energy music, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

You and your family will be lighting the candles in style this year with your very own limited edition Menurkey (ceramic edition). You'll also receive the Hanukkah candles, and a digital download of 'O Hanukkah (Menurkey version)' from the Dirty Sock Funtime Band!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

Along with your very own limited edition ceramic Menurkey, the candles, a digital download of the Menurkey song, and listing on our website as a Trusted Menurkey Ambassador, you will also receive a digital print of Asher's original 3D CAD design of the Menurkey, signed by the designer himself.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

Your limited edition ceramic Menurkey will be even more 'limited,' because this one will have your name printed right on it! Of course you will also receive the candles, a digital download of the Menurkey song, listing on our website as a Trusted Menurkey Ambassador, and a digital print of Asher's original 3D CAD design of the Menurkey, signed by the designer himself.